1

Hello,

Are you aware of the USD 250/day slab that has been put on foreign tourists in Bhutan?

2

Even if you pay USD250/day (and it is 280 if there´s less than three travellers), you are expected to tip both your guide and your driver, and it is a hefty tip, it depends of course on the level of service rendered, but it starts at the absolute "minimum" of USD10 per day for the guide and about USD 7 for the driver, not p. p., but for each small group. For larger groups it is more. You are expected to tip in Bhutan for any extras not covered by the day quota, i. e. if you opt for a stone bath, apart from the extra fee for this, you are expected to tip the stone bath owner too, at least 10% of the cost. However, no need to tip in restaurants, hotels and anything else that is covered by the USD250 (280) day charge. We loved our trip to Bhutan (it was before they raised the day quota) and thought it was worth every penny we paid, but the extra tipping requirement (we had not been aware of this before entering Bhutan and the hefty tips were an unpleasant surprise for us) casts a shadow on our otherwise very poleasant Bhutan experience.

3

Tipping for guides is $10 per person per day, for driver $5 per person per day. Usually done on last day of trip. I work in Bhutan as tour operator, so get asked this question often by visitors who have no idea what to tip. Talking with my many guide friends this is the norm and what they expect. They really go out of their way to see you have a good time, and it seems that among the guides I know, they can handle any request to make your trip memorable. As the previous poster mentioned, you also tip for stone bath or massage treatments, though no need to tip in restaurants. Regardless of the country, if you have guide, you ought to be tipping him/her.

4

Great Thanks! Sadly I had to postpone my trip until next year due to an illness. Luckily, I was able to reschedule my tour and flight on Druk Yul with no additional fees.